Thermostatic fire-extinguishing device.



1.4. Hooks. THERMOSTATIC FIRE EXKTINGUISHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. ISI 19N- Llf Patented June 22, 1915.

uurrnn JESSE J. EQGKS, GF DONNA, TEXAS.

THEEMOSTATIG FEE-EXTINGU/ISHING DEVICE;

Luarca.

To all whom it mag/concern.'

` Be it known that l, JESSE J. Hooks, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Donna,

' in thisJ county of Hidalgo and State of Texas,

gree; and further to provide means for sounding an alarm when the device is set into action, and which will. close or cut o the flow of fluid when the fire is extinguished.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and 'arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which 'Figure 1 is a. sectional elevation of a tire extinguishing device embodying my invention, showing the parts in normal position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the arrangement of the parts when the device is in ope,

eration. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on line 3-*3 of Fig. 1. Fig. ,-/1 is a section on line of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a supply pipe Jfor an extinguishing fluid, which communicates with one side of a conductor 2 terminating in a discharge device or spray nozzle 3, the iow of fluid through the nozzle being controlled by a. discharge valve 4 no rmally held closed against a seat 5.

The conductor 2 communicates at its upper end with .a pressure chamber or cylinder G in which is arranged a. diaphragm, piston or other movable pressure controlled element, In the present instance a diaphragm is shown consisting of upper, lower and intermediate spring nietaljcorrugated disks 7, 8 and 9, the upper and intermediate disks being peripherally connected with each other, and theintermediate and lower disks being centrally-apertured and connected centrai-1y by a'cuplingjringor flange 10, while the lower vdisk is p ripherally fastened in "uid tight manner 'te-ib,e""casing, as indi-` Speeication of Letters ateizt. Patented Jun@ 22, 1915, Application filed September 15, Serial-Noflo.

cated at 11. The upper and lower disks ot the diaphragm are thus mevably connected, but, as the'upper disk is free from connection-with the casing and joined by the intermediate disk to the resilient intermediate `Vdisk which 'is centrally connected with the Vlower disk, which is xed to the casing, it

is evident that the upper disk is permitted to have a greatcrramplitude or movement than thelower disk. The diaphragm separates the casing 6 into upper and lower chambers 12 and 13, and the lower disk 8 is subjected to pressure within the chamber 1S, while the upper disk 7 is subjected to the opposing pressures within both chambers, whereby the diaphragm is ordinarily maintained in a universal or valve closing position, as hereinafter described. l

T he valve l is connected by a stem 14 with the diaphragm disk 7, which extends upward through the ring 10 and is lined to the center of the disk 7, and a coiled spring 15 is suitably arranged, suchas between the bottom of the casing f5 and thevalve 4, as

v shown, to serve by its expansive action to compensate for the difference in the amplitude of motion of the disks 7 and S to maintain the parts in a normally balanced posij tion against the pressures ofv the chambers 12 and 11`to hold the diaphragm in natural position and the valve 4 seated to cut oi communication between the pipe 1 and sprayer 3 until the diaphragm is properly operated for a valve opening action.

The chamber 6 is in communication at its bottom with the pipe 1G, and hence water. normally: Hows from the pipe 1 to the chamber 13 and exerts its pressure against the diaphragm disk 8, and in order to normally place the diaphragm disk 7 under a substantially equal opposing pressure a by-pass pipe or duct 16 is provided between lthe chamber 13 and chamber 12 .by Way of a port 17 communicating withV a guide and flow passage 1S arranged within conductor tube 19 communicating with and extending 'upwardly from the top of the casing G, by which, when the. port 17 is open, the water from the chamber 13 will pass to the chamber 12 so that the pressures in said chambers will bc normally equal, the pressure in the chamber 12, however, being supplementedv by the pressure of the spring 15, whereby the balancing pressures upon the Adiaphragm disks are balanced maccordance with theirY respective desees ampliadas,einem to balance the working pressures in an effective manner. It will be understood, however, that when the flow of fluid through the by-pass to the chamber 12 is out oil', a

preponderance of pressure will be established in the chamber 13, `resulting in an upward movement of the diaphragm within the casing 6 and the opening of the valve 4f j closeupwardly against the seatl21, against which it is held by a spring 24:, to 'normally cantine the fluid within the chamber 12 and prevent its escape. This valve has a vdepending portion or guide member 25 which is movable in the guide way 18 and is adapted to controltthe port 17 to cut olf the flow of fluid therethrough under certain conditions. When the valve 23 is moved downwardly to .open the outlet 22 and close the port 17, the flow of Huid pressure into the chamber 12 will be cut oli', and en the ensuing upward movement of the diaphragm, wherein the discharge valve 4 is opened, a proportion of the fluid contained in the chamber 12 is allowed to vent through the opening 22 to prevent resistance to the upward movement of the diaphragm.

A thermostatic device is provided for controlling the double valve 23-25, and comprises a bracket 26 formed with a tubular portion27 at its base embracing the part 2O and secured thereto by a set screw 28. The bracket is in the form of an open oblong rectangular frame and has arranged therein a thermostat 29 composed of a pair of superposed corrugated metallic disks peripherally connected to form a chamber in which is inclosed a volatile liquid and expansive agent which, when exposed to heat, will volatilize or expand and forc'e the two disks apart.

The upper disk has centrally fixed thereto a threaded rod 30 which adjustably engages a threaded bore 31 in the upper arm of the bracket and is adapted to be secured in position by a lock nut 32. A vertically movable stem 33 has its upper end disposed below the center of Athe thermostat and its lower end secured to the valve 23, saidA stem passing through a restricted guide vbore 34 at the upper end of the extension 20 of the valve casing 19, the construction being such that upon the expansion ofthe thermostat p.

the stem 33'will be engaged and forced downward, thus moving the valve 23 away from its seat 21 while at'the same time depressing the valve member 25 to close the port 17, it being understood, of course, that the thermostat may be constructed to expand to a working degree at any desired return said `parts to normal position. The

'liably in action for the -discharge of the'extemperature. A spring 34 surrounds the upper portion of the stem between the upper end of the extension 20 and guard or shield 35 fixed to said stem and coperates with the spring 24 to hold the valve 23 seated and the depressible stem in normal position until the thermostat is positively expandedto the required degree to actuate the valves, said springs serving also after operation of the parts and contraction of the thermostatto guard or, shield 35 is in the form of a concavo-convex disk arranged `to intersect. and shield the thermostat from any small amount of Water which may jetthrough the bore 34: during thev exhaust of water from the chamber 12, thus preventing cooling and contraction of the thermostat during the time the device should be positively and retinguishing fluid through the sprayer nozzle 3. Any suitablekind of alarm circuit may be employed in connection with the apparatus for the purpose of sounding an alarm when a fire breaks out and the apparatus is set into operation. Inthe present instance a circuit is shown comprising conductors 36 and 37, a battery or other suitable source of electric supply 38 and a bell or othe'r alarmA device 39, said conductors being connected respectively with the thermostat and the stem 33 or some othersuitable part of the valve of the connections for operating the valve 23 from the' thermostat, which are suitably insulated from each other and 100.

mined temperature to open the relief valve- 23 forhthe purpose of settingA the apparatus into operation when a re breaks out'at or near the protected point and the tempera-i` ture rises to such degree.. Upon thee'xpan- 115V sion of the thermostat when a fire breaks opened and the valve 25 closed, whereupon an increase of pressure in the chamber 13 ensues by which the diaphragm in the casing 6 is elevated and the fluid displaced in the chamber 12 and allowed to reni; through the outlet 22. The valve 4- will thus be opened for the discharge olf the extinguishso,V

out, the stem 33 is depressed, the valve 23 e ,l i

ing fluid from the pipe 1 through the 1,215,v

sprayer 3. At the same time the expansion of the diaphragm will close the elec-trie eircuit and sound the alarlu. When the lire is extinguished and the temperature again falls, the thermostat contracts and the valve l conditions to eiect an actuating stem 33 is returned to normal position by the action of the springs 24 and 34, thus restoring the parte to normal position, closing the valve 23 against the seat 2l and opening the valve 25 to uncover the port l?, whereupon there Will be a resumption of the low of fluid' pressure through the pipe 16 to the chamber l2, thus restahlishing a suhstantial equalization oi' pressures in the 'chambers 1:2 and 13, whereupon the spring 15, coupled with the retractive action of the diaphragm disk 7, will again close the valve 4 against its seat 5 and cut ed 'the discharge of the extinguishing iluid.

The apparatus is thus adapted to operate in a positive, reliable and eilicient manner V and to loe controlled at a predetermined temperature, insuring a positive extinguishment of the'flames in the case of the breaking out of a lire at the protected point, and the subsequent restoration of y'the parts to a normal condition, thus preventing the building or apartment from being Hooded. lf, hows ever, the fire should only be partij,7 eXtin-' guished and should again break out, 'the apparatus, upon a subsequent increase of temperature to the determined degree, will again be thrown into operation to extinguish'the llames.

`While the construction disclosed is preferred, it will of course be understood that any modifications in the arrangement of parts, and the use of equivalents may 'be employed, Within the spirit and scope of the invention deiined in the appended claims.

1. ln a fire extinguishing apparatus, 'the combination of a casing, a. diaphragm in said casing Vconsisting of eonnecterl disks having different amplitudes of movement, the dislr of the lesser amplitude of movement being connected with the casing, a tluid supply pipe, means connecting casing with said supply pipe for the supply of tluid pressure on opposite sides of said diaphragm, a discharge valve connected with the diaphragm disk or" greater amplitude of movement, and means for creating variations of pressure in the casing on opposite sides of l"the diaphra'ni determined of said valve.

2. A. lire extinr combination of f casing consisting or tral disk, one of said oi to the casing so as to have a i of movement than the other outer dish, a iiuid supply pipe provided with an outlet, means establishing comn'ninieation l een said pipe and the casing on opposite sides of said diaphragm, a discharge valve controlling said outlet and connected with the diaphragm disk oi greatest amplitude of movement, and moans for establishing variations of pressure on opposite sides of the diaphragmmder certain conditions to eli'ect an opening movement of said valve.,y

3. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a4 casing, a diaphragm in said casing, comprising outer disks connected by an intermediate disk, one of said outer I disks heing ixed to the casing so as to have a lesser amplitude of movement than the outer disk, a fluid supply pipe, means connecting the same with the casing for thesupply of iiuid pressure on opposite sides of the diaphragm, a discharge valve connected with the diaphragm disk having the greatest amplitude of movement, means for establishing Variations of pressure in the casing on opposite sides of said diaphragm to effect an opening movement ot' said valve, and spring means for resisting the opening movement of the valve and coperating with the diaphragm to normally hold the valve in closed position.

4. In a lire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of uid supply pipe hevinga discharge outlet, a casing in communication said casing, a relief passage communicating with the opposite side of the casing, a oypass leading from the first-named side of the casing and communicating with the opposite side thereol through said relief passage, a discharge Tsalve controlling said'outlet, and connected with the diaphragm, a douhle'valve controlling the relief passage and luy-pass, and thcrmostatically' controlled means for adjusting said double valve to simultaneously open .the relief passage and close the hvpass. 5. ln a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a fluid supplT pipe having adischarge outlet, a casing in communication one side with said-pipe, a relief passage at the other side of the easing, a lay-pass establishing communication between the pipe and the second named side of the casing through said relier1 passage, a diaphragm within the casing, a valve controlling said discharge passage and actuated bythe dias'- phragm, a double valve controlling seid rel lief passage and bypass, a spring orznormally lmaintaining said valve in'positionfto close the relief passage and open the lay-pass, axl a thermostat acting en said valrennder and close thehy-pass.

o. in a rire extinguishing apparatus, a'

certain conditions to open the relieiv passage y fluid supply pipe having discharge pas-, y

relief passage normallv arranged to close stem, substantially as and forthe purposes 10 described.

said passage and maintaintlie by-pass open 'and movable to open said passage and close said by-pass, spring ineans for holding said double valve in the first named position, a stem connected with said double valve, a

" thermostat adapted to act upon said stern to move the valve to the second named'position, and a guard or shield carried by said .ln testimony whereof I affix iny signature in presence two Witnesses.

JESSE J. HooKs. `Witnesses r I R. R. Hoons,

. T. J. HooKs. 

